How I Learned to Love Armand Hug

Jeff Barnhart: Hal, one of the highlights for me while exploring the music of cornetist Johnny Wiggs and banjo/guitar/vocalist Edmond “Doc” Souchon was the tasty and often surprising piano tickling of one Armand Hug. It seems I sometimes use this column as a confessional. Back in my high school days, I found an old compilation LP in a jumble shop and there were several tracks featuring the three musicians I mention above. While I grooved on the sounds of Wiggs and Souchon, I didn’t like what I was hearing from the piano player. In fact, I was so flummoxed by it I put that album away (can’t even find it now…). So, when you sent sides for our listening journey over the past few columns and I saw the unforgettable name of Armand Hug in the personnel, I didn’t know what to think. What I now think is that Mr. Hug is my current favorite piano player and that I simply wasn’t ready for the aural chiaroscuro emanating from his dexterous digits! I mean, sometimes the guy changes hats every eight bars, nodding to a past great without ever merely copying. The whole luscious sound stew was simply too rich for me back in my virginal jazz days. But NOW, I’m ready! Hug was amazing, and reminded me, at least in his individuality, somewhat of Don Ewell, who also should be better known but is MUCH more recognizable a name to even the casual classic jazz fan than is Armand Hug! What hap